As it's one of the biggest cultural events of the year, there is always great interest worldwide each year in the design of the Burning Man temple. The wait is over as the design chosen for the 2020 temple has been revealed.
For a week in late August, almost 80,000 'Burners' from around the world descend on the Black Rock Desert in Nevada to create and build the temporary Black Rock City. Every year, Burning Man explores design submissions for the temple to create a special physical space for Black Rock City’s citizens to share their reflections.
The selected 2020 temple is “Empyrean” by Laurence “Renzo” Verbeck and Sylvia Adrienne Lisse, which is shaped like an eight-pointed star. There are eight vast canopies that create the sanctuary of the temple, and their walls will provide ample space for attendees to place offerings. The design allows sunlight to enter the paneling by day, while the canopy designs will be lit internally by warm white light at night.
Hovering above the central gathering space is a large wooden sculpture representing a flame, which rises up from the center of the temple and can be seen from all over Black Rock City. The flame will be illuminated by a warm, flickering light to simulate fire. At the end of the week-long event of peace, love, music, art, self-expression, which was first conceived in 1986, they tear it all down again and set fire to an effigy of 'man,' the temple and other structures built on the barren desert, affectionately dubbed 'the playa.'
"Empyrean was chosen for its lovely geometry and inclusive design, as well as for its strong leads and crew who have demonstrated the experience, integrity and feasibility necessary to create this unique space," says Katie Hazard, associate director of Burning Man Arts. "We can’t wait to see their vision come to life."
Burning Man runs from August 30 to September 7, and you can visit its website here.
